Finally!
I don't know how much this will help draw people into our little congregation, but its worth a shot. I believe that we are the only Saturday Sabbath, "One-Law" congregation in Montgomery County and probably the surrounding counties.
At any rate, here we are, Erev Shabbat (evening before Sabbath). Tomorrow I will be teaching on
Parsha Vayera
| וירא
| "He appeared
" - Genesis 18:1-22:24 (click to open these chapters in a new window)
This portion deals with an extraordinary section of Scripture, where we see Hashem ("The Name" another name for God) tell Abraham that he and Sarah are going to have a baby in their old age - not just "old" but 90 years old! When Isaac was born, Abraham was 100 years old, and Sarah was an amazing 90 years old.
She was not only barren, but she was well over the age of childbearing, having surely gone through menopause much earlier in her life - not to mention the miracle of her being able to nurse a new baby! Its not a wonder she "laughed within herself." Later in this portion Hashem tells Abraham to take Isaac up the mountain and sacrifice him. After all of that; having performed several miracles in the bearing if Isaac, they are told to sacrifice him.
Could we? I am 42, and our youngest boy is 3 years old - not exactly a "child in our old age," but you get the point. I am not sure that I could have done what Abraham did. I winced and almost looked away when my youngest was circumcised!
He has not wasked any of us to do anything quite so drastic; yet He has called us to do some difficult things; some of us have had to tell our spouses that we no longer want to work on Saturday, because we have been convinced that it is the Shabbat (Sabbath) of our Lord. Some of us have had to tell our extended families that we no longer "do Christmas," because of its Pagan roots.
Some of us have experienced extreme stress on our marriages and our relationships because of the choice to obey His Instructions.
Its hard, and it is not fun.
It is also nothing compared to being asked to lay our miracle child on God's alter, and sacrifice him. Nothing that we have endured even compares.
As we enter this Shabbat, lets try to set those problems aside; lay those stressed relationships at His feet. He knows what you are going through, and He will deal bountifully with His servants.
May He bless your rest on this Shabbat, and grant you His peace.
119:17 Deal bountifully with Your servant,
That I may live and keep Your word.
18 Open my eyes, that I may see
Wondrous things from Your law.
19 I am a stranger in the earth;
Do not hide Your commandments from me.
20 My soul breaks with longing
For Your judgments at all times.
21 You rebuke the proud—the cursed,
Who stray from Your commandments.
22 Remove from me reproach and contempt,
For I have kept Your testimonies.
23 Princes also sit and speak against me,
But Your servant meditates on Your statutes.
24 Your testimonies also are my delight
And my counselors.
That I may live and keep Your word.
18 Open my eyes, that I may see
Wondrous things from Your law.
19 I am a stranger in the earth;
Do not hide Your commandments from me.
20 My soul breaks with longing
For Your judgments at all times.
21 You rebuke the proud—the cursed,
Who stray from Your commandments.
22 Remove from me reproach and contempt,
For I have kept Your testimonies.
23 Princes also sit and speak against me,
But Your servant meditates on Your statutes.
24 Your testimonies also are my delight
And my counselors.
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